Gender Differences in Adolescents' Work and Family Orientations in the United States

We use the Education Longitudinal Study: 2002 to compare the perceived importance of work and family achievement among young women and men. We apply latent class analysis to identify distinct configurations of values, then examine associations between latent classes and educational and occupational expectations. Results show high ambitions for both work and family among both young women and men. Although young women are more likely than young men to report that marriage and family relationships are very important, differences are small. Young women are also more likely to value work-related outcomes and to hold high educational and occupational expectations.